The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially named a 16-man squad for the forthcoming One Day International (ODI) tri-series in the United Arab Emirates, where Bangladesh will face off against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will captain the national team during the tournament, with middle-order batsman Towhid Hridoy serving as his deputy. The selection panel has assembled a mix of seasoned international campaigners and promising talents, aiming to create a balanced setup capable of thriving in desert conditions.

Off-spinner Aliss Al Islam stands out as the primary headline inclusion in the touring squad. Having previously featured in Bangladesh’s Asian Games contingent, Aliss earns another opportunity to demonstrate his credentials on the senior international stage. His mystery spin offers the team management an intriguing tactical option alongside established spin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, and left-arm orthodox bowler Tanvir Islam.

The team has, however, suffered a notable setback in its bowling department following the exclusion of fast bowler Nahid Rana. Ruled out due to an ongoing injury that already sidelined him from the solitary Test match against Afghanistan, Rana’s absence deprives Bangladesh of his signature raw pace and bounce. The pacemen charged with picking up the slack include Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, and seam-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin.

The batting lineup relies heavily on established names such as Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Tanjid Hasan Tamim, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, and wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan.

The tri-series schedule opens on 17 October with Bangladesh facing Zimbabwe, followed by a clash between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan on 19 October. Bangladesh return to action on 21 October against Afghanistan, with the top two teams qualifying for the final on 23 October.

Adapting quickly to the pitch conditions and managing workloads in the UAE heat will prove vital for Litton Das’s men as they seek to build momentum from the opening match and secure a spot in the final.